Together As Mutants (Book Six)

CXXXIII. Bonding with the Uncles

Leonardo

Raphael waves goodbye as Destiny and Leonardo head off on their date night. Dean looks up at his uncle, smiling as he awaits the red-masked turtle's next words.

"So Leo Junior, what do you want to do?" Raph asks, crossing his arms.

Dean furrows his brow. "My name is Dean."

"Yeah. I know."

"You called me Leo Junior."

"Yeah."

"Why?"

Raph chuckles. "Because you're a lot like your dad."

The wolf-raven boy grins. "Good! I want to be like dad!"

"Well, he's a good role model."

Dean's tail wags as he looks around. "Are Copeland and Auntie Taylor here?"

"No. They're not. They're out shopping."

"Oh well. I guess you'll just have to play with me."

Before Raph can object, Dean grabs his hand and tugs him away.

Raphael

"Please don't give her any weapons. She'll hit someone," Taylor warns.

"It's Raph's kid. I expected it," Michelangelo says.

Raphael growls, and the youngest turtle squeaks and takes a step back.

"Just don't let anything happen to my little girl. Got it, Mikey?" the red-masked brother asks.

"Sir yes sir."

Taylor grabs her husband's hand and they head off. Mikey turns to look at Copeland, who crosses her arms across her plastron as if she's waiting for something.

"Um...so dudette, what do you want to do?" Mikey asks, ruffling the turtle girl's black hair.

"Can I try nunchucks?" she asks without any hesitation.

He smirks. "No...that would be disobeying your parents." She frowns, and his grin grows wider. "But I've got an idea."

She giggles, her tail wagging. She grabs her uncle's hand as he leads her to the dojo.

Donatello

"So, just please don't let them into the lab...or get their hands on anything like that," Donatello says.

"It's all good. Don't worry, guys." Leonardo smiles.

"Thanks again, Leo," Sarina adds.

"No problem."

They turn and leave. Leo directs his attention to the twins, smiling at them. Dakota and Asher return the smiles.

"What do you two want to do?" the leader in blue asks.

Asher sighs. "Dakota wants a tea party."

Leo smiles lightly, his eyes sparking with nostalgia for a moment. "Okay then, we'll have a tea party!" he decides.

"YAY!" Dakota cheers. "Let's go!"

She grabs each turtle's hand and leads them away, Asher going less happily than his uncle.

Michelangelo

"Mitch can be a little...hyper," Annalise mentions as she and Michelangelo prepare to leave.

"I grew up with Mikey. Don't worry," Donatello says.

"I'm right here, dude," Mikey reminds him.

"I mean it in a good way. I'll have the correct experience to properly babysit your son."

"Oh! Cool!"

Mitch bounces in place, waving to his parents as they leave. Donnie looks to the energetic young boy, exhaling heavily.

"So...what do you want to do?" the purple-masked turtle asks.

"EVERYTHING!" his nephew squeals.

Oh no.